We the undersigned are calling for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding and leading up to the closure of Hunters Hill Special School, Bromsgrove by Birmingham City Council.

There are questions that many feel need answering around how a school with a significant record of providing outstanding provision and was regularly rated outstanding, quickly went from inadequate October 2019 to a decision to close January 2021. We want an inquiry to get to the bottom of how this came about, what support there was from the Local Authority, what steps were taken by the Senior Leadership team at the school, and an analysis of the reasons repeatedly given to substantiate the decision to close.

The school occupies a site covering over 150 acres of grounds, playing fields and farm land was originally gifted to the city for the purposes of establishing a school. It has had a significant history of delivering outstanding provision with a residential element and was regularly rated as outstanding in its 80 year history, with a capacity for up to 135 students with special educational needs and/or disabilities. The school was given an inadequate rating by OFSTED in October 2019, which may parents and teachers felt was unfair, and an order to academize.

The decision to close was consulted upon with of 59 responses, 47 were opposed to the closure. The primary reasons given was a repair bill of £5m to bring the school to a 'basic, warm and dry' standard, and an in year deficit of £1.1m. The closure of the school has caused considerable upheaval to students, families and staff with the attainment and support for students affected during the consultation period and since January.

We ask that the following be considered by an independent inquiry:

- a fair analysis of the reasons given behind the closure of the school
- what support was given by the LA and bodies to Hunters Hill since 2015
- a consideration of how the parents, teachers and staff have been affected during this process.
- an analysis of management by SLT and the local authority
- whether lack of investment and routine maintenance, with a block on new pupils joining the school contributed to the closure of the school
- clarification as to what will happen to the site